All posts by admin

The Bristol Anarchist Bookfair is the South West’s best one stop shop for radical social change. A classic catch-up party for veteran anarchists and a great way to make friends if you’re new to the city, or simply anarcho-curious. A mini festival of ideas, with lashings of vegan cake.

We’ve got over 34 stalls where you can get face to face updates on all the latest Bristol campaigns and organisations, from Palestine Solidarity to the Anarchist Federation. The local Antifacsists to the IWW. Meet some legendary alternative media crews- the Bristol Cable, Consented and Strike Magazine will all be in attendance. Seven of the country’s best anarchist book distributors will be bringing you new releases to snuggle down with as the nights draw in, but we’re not just about the literature.

This year we’re particularly chuffed with our workshops, with sessions from crews doing groundbreaking work around the UK and beyond. The St Werburghs Community Centre and its extended environs give us a venue for loads of great sessions to run in parallel. All wheelchair accessible and with good acoustics so it’s easy to join in.

From taking on the advertising industry with Brandalism and tales from the front lines of anti fracking and worker resistance at the McDonalds strike, to first hand accounts from the team who occupied a runway to stop a deportation flight, it’s a great place to pick up inspiration in dark times.

It’s also a great space for tackling big ideas with experienced guides. We have the exceptional chance for folk to explore their relationship to privilege and learn about how racism functions in the UK with the Collective Liberation Project. There’ll be chat about the Why and How of Prison Abolition, as well as a workshop outlining your rights when dealing with the police and what a world without cops might look like. None of these sessions will be lectures, they’re about sharing experiences and learning together.

There are also loads of opportunities to sample practical skills, from free roped access climbing lessons in the park to the satisfaction of finding someone to help you fix your bike yourself. Try your hand in an arm tube blockade and have a go at printing a poster from a wood block. When you’re done you can kick back by joining the kids in a spot of personalised badge making, or catch a gem of a newly released film about the food system.

There’s a dedicated play space with alternative story time, crafts and games, as well as a session on parenting for social change.

There’ll be a feast of a vegan lunch available provided by the local social centre’s crack catering crew Kebele Cafe Collective, as well as teas, coffees and the annual greatest concentration of vegan cake in the city, all at knock down prices.

Whatever you’re into, the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair is a great way to stock up, explore and find folk to get plotting with. See you there 10.30am till 6pm, the St Werburghs Community Centre Saturday 16th September.

It’s 2017 and the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair Collective has new collective members, a new venue, a new date and some new ideas.

As well as all the usual exciting features of the bookfair such as the amazing range of radical literature and the networking opportunities, this year there is going to be a particular emphasis on workshops and discussions. In order to provide good space for workshops and to prevent discussions from being crammed into tiny windows of time we have moved to St Werburgh’s where we will be occupying the community center and the primary school.

Although we have taken on two venues the amount of space for book stalls will still probably be reduced from previous years. Priority will be given to groups that organise using anarchist principles and we would ask that groups campaigning on similar issues consider sharing a stall.

For bookfair stall bookings please use our shiny new online booking form which you can find here www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/S56X7K8. The deadline for stall bookings is August 16th.

If you have an idea for a workshop let us know, we are particularly looking for interactive workshops that will either inspire discussions or share practical skills useful for strengthening and progressing our movements.

For General inquiries message us on bristolanarchistbookfair@riseup.net

p.s. Unfortunately we had a minor technical hiccup and the booking form wasn’t working properly, so please re-do it if you had tried to fill it in already. Sorry!

The printing of zines has begun! The collective has picked some of our favourites to fill your brains with useful information and funny stories at the Anarchist Zine Fair, and on top of that we’re throwing a party afterwards for you all to let loose and boogie! Party info ere!

As a build up to this years bookfair we are having a Bristol anarchist zinefair. With the aim of spreading information and sharing ideas there will be distro and activist stalls selling and distributing zines. There will also be a zine making workshop and other workshops and discussions and a vegan cafe serving food and cakes all day. In the evening there will be a fundraising gig at a different venue. Come celebrate this great diy form of sharing information and experiences.

Come on in, the Anarchy’s lovely…The 8th Bristol Anarchist Bookfair is on Saturday 30th April 2016, 11am to 6pm.

The Bookfair and all Stalls will be at Trinity Centre, Trinity Rd, Bristol BS2 0NW, with the Radical History Zone just 5 minutes down the road at Hydra Bookshop (where you can also get books, coffee & cake).You are all invited! The Bookfair is Free to enter, but we welcome donations.

Trinity Centre is fully wheelchair accessible including a lift to 1st floor, accessible toilets on both floors, and designated parking in the car park. Hydra Bookshop is wheelchair accessible, but it’s toilet is not.

For full details of what’s on when and where – see Full Programme or FB eventFor just the Radical History Zone Programme – see BRHG website
For the Bookfair After-Party, presented by LaDIYfest Bristol – see here or FB event
For directions, public transport, parking and maps – read here.
We wish you all a day of total anarchy!

Protest – on the Saturday evening there is an angry march & protest: ‘Homes For All! Protest Against Bristol Council & Mayor George Ferguson‘. Starting from the Tobacco Factory in Bedminster at 5.30pm, and marching to City Hall (aka Council House) for an overnight stay/squat on College Green. Full info on FB event.

MAYDAYSunday 1st of May is May Day – International Workers Day – celebrating all those who have struggled before us, and expressing solidarity with all those fighting capitalism, the bosses and the political pawns today. Find out more.

Join us on the Radical Workers Bloc at Bristol’s May Day March & Rally! Calling all Anarchists, rebels, radicals, and workers who are sick of taking shit! Let’s give the politicians & bosses the Class War they’ve started!

The 1st of May is International Workers Day, it’s a time to come together to commemorate the struggles of the past and push forward the struggles of today.

Join us on Bristols May Day march organised by the Bristol Trades Union Council (BTUC), just look for the red & black flags on the day. We’re looking for as many people as possible to join us in a surprise action on the day as well. Solidarity!Radical Workers Bloc – FB eventBTUC march & rally – website and FB event

Also on May Day: On May 1st we are going into the city centre to make a lot of noise and celebrate our humanity in demand for Equal Rights and Justice. Meet 1pm by The Fountains!

All across Bristol and the world people are being forced from their homes. Some run from explosives, machetes and famines, whilst others are moved through rising rents and man made divides, but all the while destroying communities, families and the lives of young people. There is reason to be angry, but instead we invite Bristol to join us and express ourselves in whichever way you see fit. Make music, share food, dance and learn from other people. Info & FB event. Organised by Mayday Carnival & The Bristol Party.

30 April to 4 May: Reclaim The Power – End Coal Now Action CampJust an hour from Bristol in south Wales, this mass action could be one of the largest for years. Many people from Bristol will go on the Sunday/Monday in time for the largest action – so join them! Please read loads of important info first, on the Reclaim The Power website or FB event. Check also Frack Free Bristol (FB page) for any transport vacancies left on Sunday. Good luck to all!

We’ll see you at the Bookfair, and on the streets & in the fields! Solidarity to all! love, rage & struggle Bristol anarchist bookfair collective

Are you ready? Come and get a taste of some Anarchy this Saturday. The future is bright…if the future is anarchism! You are all invited.The full Programme for the Bookfair is complete and printing as an A5 booklet – and will be available to you at the Bookfair entrance on Saturday. Here’s a large selection of images & text links for you to peruse right now (click on links to enlarge):

The Radical History Zone is just 5 minutes down the road at Hydra Bookshop.

Entry to the Bookfair & RHZ is free…but we welcome donations towards the costs of organising the events. Thanx!

Stalls: full Stalls info here!Workshops:All Workshops/Meetings in time order with full descriptions here BABF2016_All Workshops (pdf) and BABF2016_All Workshops(open office) Plus the full Radical History Zone programme is here RHZ2016_programme (pdf) and on the BRHG website. Grid below also available here: BABF2016_Allworkshops_grid (2mb pdf)Other Important Info:Fotos at the Bookfair: we have always discouraged people taking fotos inside the event. However this means we have little or no record of previous Bookfairs….So this time we have an official volunteer photographer! Please read: “This person has been authorised to take photos of the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair by the Bookfair Collective, providing they get full permission of the individuals they wish to photograph or permission by individuals to photograph their merchandise. If you decide that after the photo is taken that you wish it to be deleted than please ask the photographer to delete it. We advise people to hide their identity in pictures, for their own safety. This individual is known to the Collective, if there are any issues, please ask a Bookfair Collective Member, who you can ask for at the Info Point by the main doors.“

Bags at the Bookfair: as a small fundraiser we’ll be selling some decent bags at the Infopoint for £5. They’ll feature a key Bookfair image from this year, and will come in 4 colours. Strictly a limited edition, who knows one day they may be as valuable as a Banksy!

Art inside & outside the Bookfair:

What is where – Bookfair layout:Remember – from main Bookfair at Trinity Centre, to Radical History Zone at Hydra Books, is just a 5min walk down Old Market Street. It’s also just 10-20 minutes to the city centre and main bus & railway stations. More info on the Directions & Transport page!